E30 Zone

My touring failed the MOT recently, it failed on rear axle carrier bushes, front outer balljoints, 1 fog light inop, N/S dipped beam to high, handbrake inop, and jacking points corroded.

Sorted all the above with no problems, but when I changed the wishbones I replaced the suspension with some I had from Scott, the shocks were bilsteins, and the springs were of an unknown make, they were red so I was guessing they were the Terra springs bilstein supply with the kit.

When I dropped the car off the jack it sat really low at the rear in my opinion, so the springs are obviously for a saloon, do you guys think it looks odd?

I think M5pilot did the same thing but there was a lot more camber on the rear tyres.

It looks like either the rear should go up a bit or the front down a bit.

front has to go down, the rear looks perfect

Cheers guys, that's what I hate about the E30 with the arches, the rear arch doesn't arch up as much as the front, when you look at the car as a whole it looks nice and level, it's only when you compare front wheel to back wheel does it look weird!

Needs a nice rake on it... drop the front end more!!

I remember when davetouring put saloon springs on his, did look very very low!

Could you put some thicker pads (you can get e'm from the dealers) or just an extra set to even things out a bit?

Yup; front end down a bit

front end down, low ridaz

Thats such a nice car!

I was going to use Spax E30 M3 springs all round but the rears were to low for my liking, i ended up using M3 front and saloon/touring for the rear.

The front on mine could do with being about 1/2 inch higher to give me a bit more ground clearance for my lip spoiler and exhaust which i banged over a speed bump today

Go slower Andy!

I was with Sir Buttwipe in london the other day and i got overtaken by no less than three cars down the same street because i was stoping for the bumps

Andrew

ive got the same kit on my tourer and it looks the same, front end down thats what im gonna do

it looks nice:
does it drive ok ??

Cheers guys, looks like I'm going to have to find some lower springs for the front then!

Joesmi, yes it drives fine, I will have to get the tracking done on it asap though as I've changed so many components!

Next on the list which will be done in 2 weekends time

3.64 LSD with Z3 M diff mount
Short shift and all new gear change components
New prop doughnut and guibo

January it will be getting an all over respray.

And then sometime next year an engine conversion, not sure what yet though, thinking about 2.7, seems to be the cheapest option.

That looks how my Touring sits, i suspect i have saloon ( 40mm drop ) springs on the rear. Handles and drives fine unless i have someone in the back or am carrying a load, then i can hear the wheels scuffing the arches under acceleration/compression from road dips etc

Matt

it may be an idea - humble one, you are the experts- to add perhaps xtra hard suspension to avoid what Matt said, other than that I always thought that tourings look great when lowered Simon .
Jose

Looks good but as everyone says a little lower at the front would be sweet.

Took ages to read all that as I'm using my Blackberry on the way home from work on the train!
Too many damn links to scroll past.

When i first had my Touring it had -60mm on the front and -40mm on the rear, looked perfect but the different spring rates made it handle bumps very badly! The rear was quite stiff and front bounced!!

I think H&R do a proper engineered 60/40 drop for the Touring

Matt

Yep, lose a few more mm from the front and it'll be spot on Si.

"New prop doughnut and guibo"

Still my got these if you're interested....

Oh and liking the Hartge's mate, I've been waiting to see them on a touring!!!

325SME wrote:Yep, lose a few more mm from the front and it'll be spot on Si.

"New prop doughnut and guibo"

Still my got these if you're interested....

Oh and liking the Hartge's mate, I've been waiting to see them on a touring!!!

Yes please Steve, if you still have them.

Simon wrote:

325SME wrote:Yep, lose a few more mm from the front and it'll be spot on Si.

"New prop doughnut and guibo"

Still my got these if you're interested....

Oh and liking the Hartge's mate, I've been waiting to see them on a touring!!!

Yes please Steve, if you still have them.

All yours mate, in the car ready for when we meet next.

the back looks fine, i think the front needs to go down a touch

325SME wrote:

Simon wrote:

325SME wrote:Yep, lose a few more mm from the front and it'll be spot on Si.

"New prop doughnut and guibo"

Still my got these if you're interested....

Oh and liking the Hartge's mate, I've been waiting to see them on a touring!!!

Yes please Steve, if you still have them.

All yours mate, in the car ready for when we meet next.

Are you home at all on the weekend coming?

I'm out all day Saturday but not sure about Sunday yet. I'm off Monday and Tuesday so I could pop them over?

325SME wrote:I'm out all day Saturday but not sure about Sunday yet. I'm off Monday and Tuesday so I could pop them over?

That sounds great mate, you going to come down? I could take a look at your seat for you then, and maybe fit your electric windows?

I don't have any spare seats at the moment Steve, only the seats that are in use!

I suppose you could pinch the passenger seat from my M3!

Simon wrote:

325SME wrote:I'm out all day Saturday but not sure about Sunday yet. I'm off Monday and Tuesday so I could pop them over?

That sounds great mate, you going to come down? I could take a look at your seat for you then, and maybe fit your electric windows?

I don't have any spare seats at the moment Steve, only the seats that are in use!

I suppose you could pinch the passenger seat from my M3!

Mmm, heated leather.....just the thing with winter approaching!!!

Hows about Monday then fella? I can pop down to yours, we can mess about with the leccy windows etc and I can pop over to Ikea for a bit of shopping afterwards then....

325SME wrote:

Simon wrote:

325SME wrote:I'm out all day Saturday but not sure about Sunday yet. I'm off Monday and Tuesday so I could pop them over?

That sounds great mate, you going to come down? I could take a look at your seat for you then, and maybe fit your electric windows?

I don't have any spare seats at the moment Steve, only the seats that are in use!

I suppose you could pinch the passenger seat from my M3!

Mmm, heated leather.....just the thing with winter approaching!!!

Hows about Monday then fella? I can pop down to yours, we can mess about with the leccy windows etc and I can pop over to Ikea for a bit of shopping afterwards then....

Monday it is then mate, any time is fine by me as I will be here all day.

No ikea near me mind!

whats this then hey? a mini-meet and im not invited1 shame on you for isolating part of the welsh mafia just because he's going to work in a dodgy country. lol.

Steve, you know the Hartges look right... now prepare to gimme them alpina reps. lol

SCOTT325SE wrote:whats this then hey? a mini-meet and im not invited1 shame on you for isolating part of the welsh mafia just because he's going to work in a dodgy country. lol.

Steve, you know the Hartges look right... now prepare to gimme them alpina reps. lol

Oh go on, would you like to join us for some E30 fettling?

Monday it is then Simon, allow me a bit of lie in and I'll be there. I'll be going home via Cardiff hence the trip to Ikea mate!!

Id love to goin you with the aim of touching up some of the old girls. Alas, i am already engaged on that particular day.
Dont forget to stab yourself in the finger... that would be the humour contribition that i would bring to the mini-meet/fettle session anyway.